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Islamabad, H.E Muhammad Bello Abioye, the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Pakistan, emphasized the growing significance of Africa in global trade and advised Pakistan to concentrate its business promotion efforts on the continent. He highlighted the potential for strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and Pakistan in numerous sectors during a farewell reception held in his honour.
According to a news release by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, the ICCI President, organized the reception at his residence. Among the attendees were ambassadors from Morocco, Ethiopia, Algeria, Somalia, and Mauritius, along with other distinguished guests from Islamabad.
During his address, High Commissioner Abioye underscored the importance of initiating direct flights between Nigeria and Pakistan to bolster bilateral trade. He recounted his tenure’s achievements in Pakistan, noting his efforts to enhance the exchange of business-related information, streamline visa processes for entrepreneurs, and promote business-to-business interactions. Commending the accelerated 48-hour visa application processing time introduced in recent years, he expressed his gratitude for the farewell event and his positive experience in Pakistan.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, speaking on the occasion, drew attention to the current Pakistan-Nigeria bilateral trade figure of approximately US$ 114 million. He advocated for concerted measures to amplify this number to around US$ 3 billion in the upcoming years, reflecting the latent potential of both nations. Bakhtawari enumerated a wide array of products and services that Pakistan could export to Nigeria and other African countries, and he paid tribute to High Commissioner Abioye’s commitment to bolstering the relationship between the two nations.
Khalid Iqbal Malik, Group Leader ICCI, emphasized the combined market strength of Pakistan and Nigeria, approximating half a billion people, and advocated for regular business delegation exchanges to unearth untapped cooperative opportunities.
Zafar Bakhtawari, the former ICCI President and Secretary General of UBG Pakistan, celebrated High Commissioner Abioye’s active role during his tenure in Pakistan. He also reiterated the idea that initiating direct flights between the two countries could be a significant catalyst for enhancing bilateral trade.
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